When the Gods Descend

Art is supposed to tell a tale, comfort the damned, awaken the asleep, question the mundane, bring the dead to life, give hope to the dejected, and finally, survive the ravages of time to keep history and culture well and truly alive for those who are yet to come.

Intricate face painting is vital to Theyyam; Image source: Kerala Tourism

Travelling through India makes one aware of the abundance of culture and history in our day-to-day activities. A seemingly simple dish may employ intricate techniques, while an intricate pattern may require only a mundane routine.

Quite often, things aren't what they seem. What seems relatively new may have its roots in the old, just like the art form Theyyam. Historians agree that significant traits of this form originated in ancient times and earlier periods of settlement.

A remarkable quality of Theyyam has been its ability to survive through environmental changes and cultural displacement. Although the performers of this art have undergone paradigm shifts, Theyyam's sociocultural essence is still being kept alive.

The name of the art form is said to have originated from the word 'Theivam'- which means God. It is also known by another name- Kaliyottam. It is a socio-religious ceremony performed in Northern Kerala. Interestingly, the performance of Theyyam has close links to the agricultural practices of Kerala.

It also goes by 'Theyyattom', signifying that every 'thera' (village) had to perform it. The cult of this folk art is said to have been developed around the 12th century during the reign of the King of Chirakkal of the Kolathiri dynasty. The Dynasty was known for its patronage of art, architecture, and literature. It was only due to this act that Theyyam was able to develop into different forms.

The folk arts combines music, dance, and ancient rituals as it is also a ritualistic performance. You'll see that many of their stories have been taken from the Puranas. Tree-worship, ancestral worship, spiritual worship, and offering prayers to gods and goddesses are part of Theyyam.

In its early forms, Theyyam was dominated by tribal and raw forms of worship, and even the followers of Islam were associated with its functional aspect.

Theyyam is performed in front of the village shrine or an open theatre. Each performance goes on for 12-24 hours with intervals. The chief dancer portrays the central deity and is not supposed to eat anything after sunset. A Theyyam performance will make the deity re-appear at intervals marked by the highly percussive drum beats that create anticipation amongst the audience.

There are more than 400 different variants of Theyyam. Some of the popular ones are Vishnumurthi, Padikutti Amma, Gulikand, Manakkott Amma, Kuttichathan, Chamundi etc.

Even though Theyyam is a cultural folk performance that represents a community, it also showcases the underlying oppression of the lower castes. The beauty of this folk art remains in the fact that people from lower castes and communities play god (a complete reversal of the social order), and even though it is a performance, Theyyam assures its devotees that despite all their worries, things will get better and at the end of trials and tribulations lies a blissful state.